5. Nothing But Thieves, Broken Machine
Nothing But Thieves' self-titled debut gained them quite a following. Their first record combined driving alt-rock with smart pop sensibilities, enshrining the British natives as the "next big thing" on UK rock radio. Their follow up to that record comes in the form of Broken Machine, and sees the group continuing their "Jeff Buckley meets Muse" sound that was the centerpiece of their first record. This time, the band have tuned in even more on their pop influences, creating eleven alt-rock tracks that manage to be catchy and fun while still being interesting and original. They don't reinvent the wheel here, but what they do, they do well.
Rating: B
Recommended Tracks: "Amsterdam", "Sorry", "Particles"
4. Lights, Skin & Earth
In the world of pop music, it can be hard to stand out as something different and unique. But Lights, with her sweet, sugary tone and personal lyrics, has always felt like an anomaly in the world of pop. Her brightly colored hair and tattooed skin certainly catches the eye, perfectly matching the addicting melodies and bright synths found in her music. Each Lights album has carried a certain tone: with the spacey sounds of debut The Listening, the deserted wasteland of Siberia, and the futuristic optimism of Little Machines, Lights has always strived to do something different. Her fourth record Skin & Earth is a post-apocalyptic story of adventure and romance, complete with an accompanying comic book written and drawn by the singer herself. The sweet, delicate synthpop is back in the form of "Kicks" and "Skydiving", while the guitar-driven grit of "Savage", which features twenty one pilots drummer Josh Dun, brings something new to the table.
Rating: B
Recommended Tracks: "Kicks", "Skydiving", "New Fears"
3. The National, Sleep Well Beast
When you've been around for nearly two decades, and your past five albums have all been met with critical fervor and acclaim, there comes a certain expectation with every new release. With Sleep Well Beast, indie rock veterans The National meet all expectations, and deliver the quality that's always expected of their work. The lyrics of Sleep Well Beast, as usual, revolve around a certain point in vocalist Matt Berninger's life. This time, the album revolves around his recent marriage, and the lyrics are just as potent as ever. However, unlike the dark and cryptic messages found in their past releases, this album carries a brightness to it that is new for the group. Overall, Sleep Well Beast is possibly The National's most experimental release yet, and a great experiment at that.
Rating: B+
Recommended Tracks: "Nobody Else Will Be There", "Day I Die", "Sleep Well Beast"
2. Enter Shikari, The Spark
Change is something that all artists must undergo if they want to remain interesting, especially several albums into their career. Enter Shikari are normally known as a electronic-influenced post-hardcore band, but for their fifth LP The Spark, the band have shed most of their heavy roots and opted for a poppier sound, bringing the electronics to the forefront. The distorted guitars of the past are replaced mostly with clean riffs and a focus on catchy hooks and melodies. The result is a dystopian-esque pop-rock album that sounds both retro and futuristic at once, a mishmash of styles from the house-tinged sound of "Rabble Rouser" to the tranquil Japanese influenced "Shinrin-Yoku". Make no mistake, The Spark is the best effort the Shikari boys have put out yet.
Rating: B+
Recommended Tracks: "Live Outside", "Rabble Rouser", "An Ode To Lost Jigsaw Pieces"
1. Sufferer, Sufferer
Supergroups are often a bad idea; a hamfisted attempt at combining the name recognition of several bands for a quick money grab. So when members of post-hardcore groups A Lot Like Birds, Hail the Sun, and I The Mighty got together to write a concept record about "a day in the life of someone who suffers from severe anxiety", you could color me intrigued. After two long years of buildup, the result of this project is finally here, and it's fantastic. The three vocalists: Cory Lockwood, Shane Gann, and Forrest Wright, all portray a different "voice" in the characters head. These are his depression, his anxiety, and the character himself, respectively. The music is chaotic and frantic with small moments of peace and solace sprinkled in as it goes through the roller coaster of emotions that depression and anxiety can bring. The lyrics are poignant and real, without being cheesy or over-the-top. The end product is an honest, eye-opening, artistically unique piece of music that deserves all the praise it gets and more. A fantastic effort.
Rating: A-
Recommended Tracks: All of them, this is an album that has to be listened to in full.
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